Universal lighting fixture



Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,483 w. T. BLACKWELL I UNIVERSAL LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 2'7, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WI LLIAI"! T BLACKWELL Dec. 14 1926.

W. T. BLACKWELL UNI VERSAL LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 27, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W L Ll AM T- BLACKWELL' ATTORNEY Dec. 14 1926.

w. T. BLACKWELL UNIVERSAL LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 27, 1921 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WI LL i AM T BLACKWELL.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES r. 1,610,483 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM THOMAS BLACKWELL, 0F WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WEST- INGHOUSE LAMP COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

UNIVERSAL LIGHTING FIXTURE.

Application filed October 2'7, 1921. Serial No. 510,840.

This invention relates to lighting fixtures,

' and more particularly it relates to the t pe of fixtures usually employed in homes, 0 ces and factories.

1 An object of myinvention is to provide a universal lighting fixture which, by the addition of differently designed reflectors, may be altered conveniently without any structural changes to meet various requirements are reduced to a minimum.

A further object of my invention is to provide a husk or shade holder, having a simple and convenient construction for securing a globe, or a globe and a reflector, thereto.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description.

The character of lighting-fixtures required in various oflices, factories, homes, and the like, is dependent to a considerable extent upon the color of the walls and ceilings, the location of the fixture, nature of the work, andupon many other factors. For instance, in a factory having relatively high ceilings and dark walls, fixtures'which direct the light upwardly, commonly termed indirect lighting fixtures. would be unsuitable, 'but those which reflect the light downwardly would be more serviceable. Again, in an oflice where the walls and ceilings are more or less bright and a well-diffused light is de-- sired, a direct lighting fixture would fail to give the proper illumination; however, a fix- .conditions probably warrant ture which will direct the light against the ceiling and walls. and diffuse it to give uniform illumination. will be preferred. Other the employment of a lighting-fixture which mere y eliminates the glare of the light source.

In meeting these various requirements, it

a fixture of such construction that.

is the practice ofmanufacturers to supply a fixture suitable for each requirement, that is, if a direct lighting effect is desired a lighting unit for producing such effect is devised, or if a semi-indirect effect is preferred a single fixture for producing such an effect is constructed. Such a course necessarily requires the maintenance of a large stock of fixtures, which requires considerable space for storage and for display purposes as well as adding to the cost of the fixture.

It is the purpose of my invention to avoid the necessity of manufacturing a number of different lighting units to produce different lighting effects by the provision of a universal unit which, without requiring structural alterations, and by the simple addition of differently designed reflectors. may be readil v converted at will into the desired type of fixture to meet the condition imposed. urthermore, itis proposedto construct the fixture in such manner that it will be dustproof, require no ventilation, reduce to a minimum the casting of ceiling shadows. and provide ready access for the replacement of lamps and the cleaning of the fixture, if necessary, without the removal of the globe from its operatin position.

Where the lig' globe in itsconstruction. various methods are resorted to for supporting it. One of the favorite types of construction employs a husk having an annular flange through which a plurality of screws are threaded. These screws engage .an upstanding collar on the globe to firmly secure it to the fixture. In manufacturing globes having these collars, it is necessary to resort to a separate operation to form the collar, which. obvious- 1y, adds considerably to the cost of produc tion. Furthermore, the projecting screws detract from the general appearance of the fixture. My improved husk embodies a con struction which avoids the necessity of forming upstanding collars on the globes by providing a simplified fastener consisting of a screw collar engaging an inturned flange on the globe. The flange may be readily formed on the globe at the time the globe is blown without requiring any independent operation for its formation.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a lighting fixture which may be employed as a general lighting unit where elimination of the glare is the only desirable feature, the view being partially broken away to illustrate more clearly the detailed construction of the novel shade holder, and also indicating in dotted outline the application of interchangeable shades thereto for altering the fixture to produce different lighting effects.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cover ada ted to be aflixed to the lower portion of the fixture,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the fixture shown in Fig. 1 converted into a lighting fixture in which all the light is directed toward the lower hemisphere (by the simple addition of a bowl reflector), and being artially broken away to illustrate the adapta ility of various parts of the fixture securely thereto.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the fixture illustrated in Fig. 1 converted by the addition of a ditferentl desi ed reflector into a lighting unit or re ecting the light into in Fig. 1 gives the best eifects,

both the upper and lower hemispheres; and also being partiall broken away to illustracpe the manner 0 supporting the reflector, an

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a frame for supporting the reflector illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the selected li hting fixture isshown as comprising a g obe 1 for enclosing the usual lighting element 2 supported in a socket 3. A husk or shade holder 4, associated with the socket, is adapted to support the globe. The socket and husk may be supported in a suitable manner from a chain 5 by means of an eye stud 6.

, In constructing this unit to obtain the advantages heretofore outlined, the globe may have any desired contour to obtain predetermined light distribution effects. I have found, however, that for purposes of efliciently lighting homes and the like, a globe approximating the contour illustrated especially when the lower portion? thereof has been treated so that some of the li ht rays are difiused. The treatment usua ly accorded the lower part of the globe consists in etching the same or in applying a coating of a translucent material. The coating may extend to any desired height to produce a given lighting effect. The treatment of this lower portion prevents the lamp filament from bein readily observed by the eye and thus e iminates any undesirable glare. The upper portion 8 of the globe is maintained clear or lightly coated to obtain full or partial illumination of the ceiling of the room.

The contour of my referred design of globe ma be mechamcally described as havmg the ower portion 7 considerably enlarged and bowed outwardly, and the upper portion 8 formed in a reverse curvature to the lower portion, or bowed inwardly, and extending upwardly to a point where an annular inwardly extending collar 9 of small diameter is formed. This collar is adapted to be attached tothe husk, and the opening 10 therein is of considerably less diameter than the maximum diameter of the lighting element 2. By providing a globe with an inturned collar, certain manufacturing difliculties involved in making the well-known upstanding collar are obviated, and a globe may be directly blown without any subsequent steps to fashion the collar. the novel shade holder for securing the v The lower portion of the globe may have an opening 11 formed therein which permits the lighting element, such as an incandescent lamp, to be introduced and removed therethrough, whereby a lamp may be readily replaced without removing the globe from the fixture. In addition, the size of the opening permits the interior of the globe to be cleaned, if necessary, without removing the latter from the husk, or shade holder. It will be readily appreciated that bynot having to remove the globe to accomplish the foregoing purposes that the high breakage rate is reduced to a minimum.

A cover 12 is provided for closing the opening 11 and may be formed of metal, glass or other desired material. Usually this cover is made of metal provided with a light colored paint or covering in order that it may assist in reflecting the light rays emanating from the lamp. This cover may be attached to the globe in any desired manner, preferably by employing resilient strips 13 (see Fig. 2) which have curved or looped sections 14 near their exterior ends so that the curved sections contact'with the interior surface of the globe and support the cover in normal position. The extreme ends of the resilient strips are bent at angles so that they engage the globe at the edges of opening 11 in order to position the cover.

Referring now to the husk 4, it is to be noted that its general contour is in line with the general curvature of the upper porill) The globe may be aifixed to the husk in any convenient manner, but I prefer to eliminate the use of the well-known and unsightly screw-threaded studs by employing the attaching means illustrated in Fig. l.

With such structure, the exterior contour of the fixture is graceful and unbroken, which,

obviously, presents a more pleasing and linished fixture. Because of the fastening means which I employ, I am enabled to sevure a globe, or a globe and reflector, in position with greater facility and less likelihood of breakage. My improved husk may comprise a hollow body of graceful contour, preferably a hollow conical-shaped member, having an outwardly extending head 15 formed at the lower end thereof and having an annular undersurface 16 which form an abutment for a member later to be described. An annular screw-threaded portion, or flange 17, depends from adjacent the inner edge of the annular undersurface 1G and upon this flange is screw-threaded a member or ring 18. Obviously, the ring 18 may be clamped in any position of ads justment in any des red manner. This member 18 is provided with an annular flange 19 and wings 20 which are readily grasped by the hand in order to screw the member 18 upwardly or downwardly on the depending portion 17. In assembling the globe and husk, the inwardly extending collar 9 on the top of the globe is moved into position along the depending portion 17 of the husk and the member 18 is then screwed into position along the portion 17 to force the collar 9 contacting with flange 19 into its normal position against the annular undersurface 16. In some instances and for purposes of reducing breakage, I may provide washers 21 on each side of the ring 9. These washers may be made of a resilient material, if desired. The fixture is thereby rendered dust-proof.

The fixture illustrated in Fig. 1 may be employed to obtain certain lighting effects, but one of its great advantages is that it is capable of receiving reflectors and shades by means of which any desired lighting effects to meet specified conditions may be effected. The reflectors and shades may be easily and quickly affixed to the fixture without requiring structural changes to be made therein. For purposes of illustration, Figs. 3 and 4 show the attachment of re flectors of different types.

A fixture which will give a substantially direct lighting effect and which will find considerable utility in factories or places Where it is desired to direct all the light downwardly or in the lower hemis here, is illustrated in Fig. 3. In the em odment therein illustrated, a reflector o'r attachment 22, preferably made of metal, is placed in olose proxim ty to the upper portion of the,

globe 1. The lower edge of the reflector is so arranged with res ect to the clear section ofglass in the glo e 1 that light passing therethrough will strike the reflector and be directed downwardly into the lower tion is desired.

hemisphere. A flood of light .partly reflected and partly subdued will be directed toward the place where the bright illumina- If it is desirable to have a fixture which directs the light rays partially into the upper hemisphere and partly into the lower hemisphere, the fixture illustrated in Fig. 1 may be conveniently altered without making any structural changes to produce the desired effect. In Fig. 4 a converted fixture of that kind is illustrated. A specially designed reflector or shade 23, having its lower portion within the greatest diameter of the bowl 1 and gracefully curved upwardly and outwardly, and supported by the hack 4, may be employed to secure the desired effect. The outwardly curved portion is positioned with respect to the bowl 1 to provide for its exterior illumination, thus securing a fixture which has no dark shadows to detract from its general appearance.

From the foregoing, it is to be noted that by simple additions or substitutions of differently designed reflectors or shades, a

great variety of fixtures adaptable for different lighting situations may be secured, from which it will be gathered that the retailer or obber will not be required to maintain such a large supply offixtures with consequent increased overhead expenses resulting therefrom.

These reflectors may be affixed to the fixtures in any preferred manner, but I .find it advantageous to provide them with collars 24 which contact with the surface 16' of the husk upon being forced into normal position by the movement of member 18. The reflector 23 illustrated in Fig. 4 is preferably held in any desired position by arms 25 (see Fig. 5) formed integrally or otherwise with the collar 24 which is heldbetween surface 16 of the husk and flange 19. The exterior ends of the arms 25 may be afiixed to the lower end ofwthe reflector 23, as illustrated in Fig. 4, either by welding or riveting, or the reflector may loosely rest thereon. In order that these arms do not cast shadows they may be turned at right angles to the planes in which they extend from collar 24, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The fixture herein illustrated requires no ventilation because the metal and glass parts are sufficiently numerous to conduct the heat away by radiation.

The term globe as used herein is intended to cover light distributors of other than mere spherical shape.

It is. appreciated that modifications of the fixture may be made, and it is to be understood that changes in the design of various parts of the fixture may be made to adapt them to various ornamentations and for various usages found desirable in manufacture,

but such modifications and changes are considered as being within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A universal electric lighting unit comprising a globe having an opening in the normally lower portion thereof and a smaller restricted opening in the upper extremity thereof, an inwardly-extending collar at the'upper extremity of said globe forming said restricted opening, a supporting member for said globe for engaging said collar and an attachment having an inwardly-extendin'g flange therein adapted to rest on said collar and to be supported thereby for altering the light distribution of said unit.

2. A universal electric lighting unit comprising a globe having an inwardly-extend ing collar at its upper extremity, a supporting member for said globe and a reflector for said unit having an inwardly turned flange adapted to rest on said collar, said supporting member, collar and flange being adapted to permit an interchange of reflectors of different design for altering the light distribution of said unit and means in said supporting member for securing said flange and collar togetherand supporting said globe and reflector.

3. In an electric lighting fixture, the combination of a lighting element, a support for said element, a globe enclosing said lightingrelement, a husk associated with said support for supporting said globe, an inwardly turned collar in the upper extremity of said globe for attaching said globe, a reflector supported on said collar, and means in said husk for clamping said reflector in juxtaposition to said collar.

husk comprising a hollow conical shaped body portion, an inturned annular fiangeat the base portion thereof forming an abutment, an annular downwardly extending screw-threaded flange adjacent the inner edge of said abutment and spaced inwardly therefrom and a clamping nut threaded upon said screw-threaded flange, whereby an object placed between said abutment and said nut may be secured to said husk.

5. In an electric lighting fixture the combination of a socket for supporting an incandescent lamp, a husk associated with said socket, a globe for enclosing said lamp and having its lower portion treated to diffuse light rays and its upper porton substantially clear, means operated from the interior of said globe for aflixing it to said husk, said globe having a top opening of less diameter than the bulb of said incandescent lamp and having a base opening of greater diameter than said lamp for permitting the introduction and removal of the same therethrough, a cover having a surface contour forming a continuation of the surfacecontour of said globe and adapted to close said base opening, spring members associated with said cover and contactin withithe interior of said globe for holding said cover in normal position and a reflector supported by said husk and adapted to deflect some of the light rays passing through said globe. l 6. An electric lighting fixture comprising a globe having an inturned supporting flange and a husk engaging said flange for supporting said globe, said husk having its maximum external diameter smaller than the minimum external diameter of said globe, whereby the ceiling shadows are reduced to a minimum.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of October. 1921. v

WILLIAM THOMAS BLACKWELL. 

